"Interesting..." Ren murmured, observing the audience as they fought to be first in line for the burning. He still wasn't sure what Da Shen was truly after, so he continued watching.
Soon, a young man stepped onto the stage after being selected by Da Shen. Ren watched as the man positioned himself before Yira while Da Shen chanted incantations. Immediately, flames erupted from Yira's mouth, engulfing the young man entirely.
The man fell to his knees, crying out in agony as the fire consumed him.
Ren's jaw dropped as he watched the man writhe in pain while the audience cheered and prayed. He could see strange green flames rising from the man, mixing with the fire and streaming upward into an hourglass suspended in the air.
No one else seemed to notice the hourglass draining the spirit core from this man. Ren was certain of that. But he could see it—and so could the beast babies.
"What's that green stuff?" Ce'ran asked.
